Story Highlights

Because of wet conditions, Arizona State on Wednesday moved practice from Camp Tontozona to Payson's Rumsey Park.

MY REPORT

Coach Todd Graham on moving practice to Payson: "That's football. I kind of like that we experience things like that. I told them we're going to get some ski poles to go up Mount Kush (Wednesday.) Obviously, I'd much rather be there where we're staying practicing, but it's awesome to come down here in Payson and see all these people here. We planned on coming here one day anyway."

Last week, Graham talked about the importance of not only running the football, but sending a message while doing so.

"We have an offensive line that's very, very physical,'' Graham said. "We're not going to trick people to score. That's what we did last year. You can't do that. Every champion has to be able to line up and run the ball with great efficiency."

Graham proved Wednesday this wasn't just talk. During 11-on-11 goal-line action, ASU lined up in a gimmick formation and was stopped short of the goal line. Graham wasn't pleased. Asked about the play after practice, Graham explained:

"My deal is where I want our development and our personality, I would like to stop practice, get on a loud speaker and say, 'We're going to line up in two tight ends and two backs and run the power,''' Graham said. "Because our defense needs that and our offense needs that. It makes a statement about ... who ... we .. are.

"There's going to be a time this year, just like there was a time last year, when you have the ball on the 1-yard line and you have to score and you're just not going to trick people. I'm not big into that. Obviously, (offensive coordinator) Mike (Norvell) calls the plays; he can do whatever he wants to do as long as I like it. (joking).

"But no, I didn't like that. And on the same hand, we're going to score and we're going to be creative about it, but at this point in camp, we really don't need all that other stuff. We just need to line up and play smash-mouth football and see how guys respond."

An ASU football sits on the grass at Camp Tontozona near Payson on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2014. (Photo: Cheryl Evans/azcentral sports)

A close up view of the Pac-12 Championship game trophy sticker that was featured on the back of the helmets worn by the ASU football team during the scrimmage on Saturday, Aug. 16, 2014 at Camp Tontozona near Payson, Arizona. (Photo: azcentral sports)

ASU senior offensive lineman Chip Sarafin meets with the media on the field at Camp Tontozona near Payson on Wednesday, Aug. 14, 2014. Sarafin revealed the day before in a magazine article that he is gay. (Photo: Chris Peterson/azcentral sports)

Rain water is removed from the field at Rumsey Park during training camp on Tuesday, Aug. 13, 2014 in Payson, Arizona. Rain at Camp Tontozona forced ASU to move practice to Payson. (Photo: Rob Schumacher/azcentral sports)

(For the first time this season, ASU's entire practice was open to media and fans.Thursday, Friday and Saturday's sessions are expected to be open as well.)

-Mendoza's injury may have settled the position battle at weak-side linebacker. Freshman D.J. Calhoun has battled Mendoza for the starting job for most of preseason camp. Calhoun, who enrolled in school early to attend spring practice, worked with the first team Wednesday. Red-shirt freshman Chans Cox and junior Eriquel Florence backed him up, although that may not stick.

-When first-team left guard Christian Westerman had to leave with a minor issue, it gave offensive-line coach Chris Thomsen a a chance to get a look at sophomore Evan Goodman with the first team. Goodman lined up at left tackle, moving left tackle Jamil Douglas to left guard, where he has started the past two years. "From what I could tell, I thought he was playing well,'' Thomsen said of Thomsen. "He had a false start, which we got to clean that up. We'll look at the film and see how he did." Thomsen said he is happy with ASU's first-team, but it still has a lot of technical things to improve on.

-Cameron Smith -- limited for more than a week with an undisclosed injury -- dropped a pass Wednesday, but overall the sophomore receiver has looked sharp the past few days. In relation to speed, Smith just seems to have a different gear than the rest of ASU's receivers. He's running with the second team, but don't be surprised if he's bumped to first team at some point.

-Graham on freshman defensive tackle Tashon Smallwood: "(He) is as fast off the football as any freshman I've ever had and as fast as anybody we've had here. Right now, he's responded like a veteran, not like a freshman."

-Details matter. When junior cornerback Lloyd Carrington didn't line up correctly in a drill, Graham jumped on him. "To the millimeter. I want everything to the millimeter," he said. "That's how you win."

-I counted four quarterback "sacks" (no tackling) during 11-on-11 competition, one coming from sophomore defensive end Viliami Latu, who has had a quiet camp.

-Junior safety Jordan Simone had two interceptions, one in 1-on-1 drills (off Taylor Kelly) and one in 11-on-11 action (off Mike Bercovici). Simone is battling red-shirt freshman James Johnson for the starting bandit safety position.

-In certain sets, sophomore defensive lineman Edmond Boateng is working with the first team. Graham has been pleased with Boateng's recent practices.

-Freshman tight end Brendan Landman returned to practice without restriction after missing time with an injury.

Not coming: Former Purdue linebacker Ruben Ibarra, who planned to play at ASU as a graduate transfer, will not play with the Sun Devils because of academic reasons. Ibarra would've provided depth at linebacker.

UP NEXT

If the practice field is in good shape, ASU will practice at 8:30 a.m. Thursday at Camp Tontozona. If the field is not in good shape, the Sun Devils likely will work out at Rumsey Park in Payson. Senior offensive lineman Chip Sarafin is expected to talk to reporters after practice. Sarafin recently told Tempe-based magazine Compete that he is gay.